Obama Seeks More From GOP Short-Term Debt Limit Deal

WASHINGTON — House Republicans said President Obama asked them to revise their proposal for a six-week increase in the nation’s $16.7 trillion debt ceiling. The plan is intended to avoid a first-ever U.S. default on debts.

The White House had indicated earlier Thursday that Obama might be able to accept a short-term debt-limit extension. But House Republicans emerged from a meeting with with the president indicating that more negotiations were still necessary.

House Appropriations Chairman Hal Rogers, R-Ky., said the president is seeking more progress on a stopgap spending bill as part of the debt limit negotiations. “I think it’s clear that he would like to have the shutdown stopped and that would require a [continuing resolution] and we’re trying to find out what it is he would insist upon in a CR and what we would insist upon in a CR,” Rogers said. He said staff was working late Thursday on possible negotiations on a stopgap spending bill that could reopen government. “The resolution was we had a good, frank discussion, clarifying issues on both sides,” Rogers said. “We’re trying to find if there is a way to quickly settle the CR questions, so that we can pass a CR and stop the shutdown.”